Datiscin is a substance yielded by the bastardhemp, Datisca cannabina, a herbaceousdioeciousperennial, a native of the south of Europe, where it is used as a substitute for Peruvian bark, and for making cordage. Datiscin is extracted from the leaves, and is used as a yellow dye. Research Datiscin
Agrimony is a genus of plants of the family Rosaceae consisting of slender perennial herbs found in temperate regions. The leaves of common agrimony are used as a yellow dye. Research Agrimony
Alfalfa or lucerne (Medicago sativa) is a prolific perennial tall herbaceous plant of the pea family Leguminosae. It is native to Eurasia and bears spikes of small purple flowers in late summer. It is now a major fodder crop, generally processed into hay, meal, or silage. Alfalfa sprouts, the sprouted seeds, have become a popular salad ingredient. Research Alfalfa
Alismacese is the water-plantain family, a natural order of endogenous plants, the members of which are herbaceous, annual or perennial; with petiolate leaves sheathing at the base, hermaphrodite (rarely unisexual) flowers, disposed in spikes, panicles, or racemes. They are floating or marsh plants, and many have edible fleshy rhizomes, They are found in all countries, but especially in Europe and North America, where their rather brilliant flowers adorn the pools and streams. The principal genera are Alisma (water-plaintain) and Sagittaria (arrow-head). Research Alismaceae
Angular Solomon's seal (Polygonatum odoratum) is a poisonous perennialherb of the family Liliaceae native to Britain, occurring in northern and western England and rarely in Wales. It has a thick, white, creeping rhizome and angled, arched stems, which bear numerous alternate, ovate to elliptic leaves in two rows. The flowers are white in colour, drooping, fragrant and tubular and grow singly or in pairs from the leaf axils. The fruit is a dark-blue berry. Research Angular Solomon's Seal
Antirrhinum is a genus of annual or perennial plants of the natural order Scrophulariaceae, commonly known as snapdragon, on account of the peculiarity of the blossoms, which, by pressing between the finger and thumb, may be made to open and shut like a mouth. They all produce showy flowers, and are much cultivated in gardens. Many varieties of some of them, such as the great or common snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus), have been produced by gardeners. Research Antirrhinum
Armeria (Thrift) also known as sea-pink is a genus of perennial plants of the family Plumbaginaceae. They are native to Europe, Asia, North America and Chile and form cushion-like tufts on the rocks of sea-shores and high in the mountains. Armeria has very slender, stiff leaves growing in bundles from the woody branches of the rootstock. The flowers are funnel-shaped, rosy and massed in half-round heads at the summit of a hairy scape. Research Armeria
Arnica is a genus of plants of the natural order Compositae, consisting of some twelve species, one of which is found in Central Europe, Arnica montana (leopard's bane or mountain tobacco), but is not a native of Britain. It has a perennialroot, a stem about 60 cm high, bearing on the summit flowers of a bright-yellow colour. In every part of the plant there is an acrid resin and a volatile oil, and in the flowers an acrid bitter principle called arnicin. The root contains also a considerable quantity of tannin. A tincture of it is employed as an external application to wounds and bruises. Research Arnica
Arrowroot (Maranta arundinaceae) also known as Araruta, is a herbaceousperennial of the family Marantaceae, native to the West Indies and Central America. It has a creeping rhizome with upward-curving, fleshy, cylindrical tubers covered with large, thin scales that leave rings of scars. The flowering stem reaches a height of two metres and bears creamy flowers at the ends of the slender branches that terminate the long peduncles. They grow in pairs. The numerous, ovate, glabrous leaves are from five to 25 centimetres long with long sheaths often enveloping the stem. A starch is extracted from the rhizomes and used in cooking and in herbal medicine for treating scorpion and spiderstings. Research Arrowroot
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Datiscin
